Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first rotation shaft selectively connected to a transmission housing, a second rotation shaft, a third rotation shaft selectively connected to the transmission housing, a fourth rotation shaft directly connected to the input shaft, a fifth rotation shaft selectively connected to the second rotation shaft, a sixth rotation shaft, a seventh rotation shaft selectively connected to the input shaft, and selectively connected to the fifth rotation shaft or the sixth rotation shaft, and an eighth rotation shaft directly connected to the output shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0177364 filed Dec. 10, 2014, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an automatic transmission for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission of a vehicle which improves power delivery performance and reduces fuel consumption by achieving ten forward speed stages using a minimum number of constituent elements.

Description of Related Art

In recent years, increasing oil prices have forced auto manufacturers into extreme competition in order to enhance fuel efficiency.

As a result, research into reduction of weight and enhancement of the fuel efficiency through downsizing has been conducted in the case of an engine and research for simultaneously securing operability and fuel efficiency competitiveness through multiple speed stages has been conducted in the case of an automatic transmission.

However, in the automatic transmission, as the number of speed stages increase, the number of internal components increase, and as a result, work efficiency while mounting the transmission in a vehicle and power transmission efficiency may deteriorate and the manufacturing cost and weight of the vehicle may increase.

Accordingly, development of a planetary gear train which may bring about maximum efficiency with as small a number of components may be important in order to increase a fuel efficiency enhancement effect through the multi-stages.

In this aspect, in recent years, 8 and 9-speed automatic transmissions tend to be implemented and the research and development of a planetary gear train capable of implementing more speed stages has also been actively conducted.

The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission of a vehicle having advantages of improving power delivery performance and fuel economy by achieving ten forward speed stages and one reverse speed stage using a minimum number of constituent elements and of improving silent driving using a driving point positioned at a low engine speed.

According to various aspects of the present invention, a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear, a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear, a third planetary gear set including a third sun gear, a third planet carrier, and a third ring gear, a fourth planetary gear set including a fourth sun gear, a fourth planet carrier, and a fourth ring gear, a first rotation shaft including the first and second sun gears and selectively connected to a transmission housing, a second rotation shaft including the first planet carrier and the fourth ring gear, a third rotation shaft including the first ring gear and selectively connected to the transmission housing, a fourth rotation shaft including the second planet carrier and directly connected to the input shaft, a fifth rotation shaft including the second ring gear and the third sun gear and selectively connected to the second rotation shaft, a sixth rotation shaft including the third planet carrier, a seventh rotation shaft including the fourth sun gear, selectively connected to the input shaft, and selectively connected to the fifth rotation shaft or the sixth rotation shaft, and an eighth rotation shaft including the third ring gear and the fourth planet carrier and directly connected to the output shaft.

Each of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets may be a single pinion planetary gear set.

The first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets may be disposed sequentially from an engine side.

The planetary gear train may further include a first clutch interposed between the input shaft and the seventh rotation shaft, a second clutch interposed between the second rotation shaft and the fifth rotation shaft, a third clutch interposed between the fifth rotation shaft and the seventh rotation shaft, a fourth clutch interposed between the sixth rotation shaft and the seventh rotation shaft, a first brake interposed between the first rotation shaft and the transmission housing, and a second brake interposed between the third rotation shaft and the transmission housing.

A first forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the first clutch and the first and second brakes, a second forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the third clutch and the first and second brakes, a third forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the first and third clutches and the second brake, a fourth forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the second and third clutches and the second brake, a fifth forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the first and second clutches and the second brake, a sixth forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the first and fourth clutches and the second brake, a seventh forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the first, second, and fourth clutches, an eighth forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the first and fourth clutches and the first brake, a ninth forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the first and second clutches and the first brake, a tenth forward speed stage may be achieved by operation of the second and third clutches and the first brake, and a reverse speed may be achieved by operation of the fourth clutch and the first and second brakes.

According to various aspects of the present invention, a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear, a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear, a third planetary gear set including a third sun gear, a third planet carrier, and a third ring gear, and a fourth planetary gear set including a fourth sun gear, a fourth planet carrier, and a fourth ring gear, in which the input shaft may be directly connected to the second planet carrier, the output shaft may be directly connected to the third ring gear and the fourth planet carrier, the first sun gear may be directly connected to the second sun gear, the first planet carrier may be directly connected to the fourth ring gear, the second ring gear may be directly connected to the third sun gear, the third ring gear may be directly connected to the fourth planet carrier, the fourth sun gear may be selectively connected to the input shaft, the first planet carrier and the fourth ring gear may be selectively connected to the second ring gear and the third sun gear, the second ring gear and the third sun gear may be selectively connected to the fourth sun gear, the third planet carrier may be selectively connected to the fourth sun gear, the first sun gear and the second sun gear may be selectively connected to a transmission housing, and the first ring gear may be selectively connected to the transmission housing.

The planetary gear train may further include a first clutch selectively connecting the fourth sun gear with the input shaft, a second clutch selectively connecting the first planet carrier and the fourth ring gear with the second ring gear and the third sun gear, a third clutch selectively connecting the second ring gear and the third sun gear with the fourth sun gear, a fourth clutch selectively connecting the third planet carrier with the fourth sun gear, a first brake selectively connecting the first sun gear and the second sun gear with the transmission housing, and a second brake selectively connecting the first ring gear with the transmission housing.

Various embodiments of the present invention may achieve ten forward speed stages by combining four planetary gear sets with six friction elements. Therefore, power delivery performance and fuel economy may be improved.

Since a speed stage suitable to engine speed can be achieved due to multiple speed stages, silent driving may be improved.

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar terms as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuel derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example, both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary planetary gear train according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation chart of friction elements at each speed in the exemplary planetary gear train according to the present invention.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a planetary gear train according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a planetary gear train according to various embodiments of the present invention includes first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets PG1, PG2, PG3, and PG4 disposed on the same axis, an input shaft IS, an output shaft OS, eight rotation shafts TM1 to TM8 including at least one of rotation elements of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets PG1, PG2, PG3, and PG4, six friction elements C1 to C4 and B1 to B2, and a transmission housing H.

As a result, torque input from the input shaft IS is changed by cooperation of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets PG1, PG2, PG3, and PG4, and the changed torque is output through the output shaft OS.

The simple planetary gear sets are disposed in a sequence of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets PG1, PG2, PG3, and PG4 from an engine side.

The input shaft IS is an input member and power from a crankshaft of an engine is torque-converted through a torque converter to be input into the input shaft IS.

The output shaft OS is an output member, is disposed in parallel with the input shaft IS, and transmits driving torque to a driving wheel through a differential apparatus.

The first planetary gear set PG1 is a single pinion planetary gear set and includes a first sun gear S1, a first planet carrier PC1 rotatably supporting a first pinion P1 that is externally meshed with the first sun gear S1, and a first ring gear R1 that is internally meshed with the first pinion P1 as rotation elements thereof.

The second planetary gear set PG2 is a single pinion planetary gear set and includes a second sun gear S2, a second planet carrier PC2 rotatably supporting a second pinion P2 that is externally meshed with the second sun gear S2, and a second ring gear R2 that is internally meshed with the second pinion P2 as rotation elements thereof.

The third planetary gear set PG3 is a single pinion planetary gear set and includes a third sun gear S3, a third planet carrier PC3 rotatably supporting a third pinion P3 that is externally meshed with the third sun gear S3, and a third ring gear R3 that is internally meshed with the third pinion P3 as rotation elements thereof.

The fourth planetary gear set PG4 is a single pinion planetary gear set and includes a fourth sun gear S4, a fourth planet carrier PC4 rotatably supporting a fourth pinion P4 that is externally meshed with the fourth sun gear S4, and a fourth ring gear R4 that is internally meshed with the fourth pinion P4 as rotation elements thereof.

In the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets PG1, PG2, PG3, and PG4, one or more rotation elements are directly connected to each other to operate with eight rotation shafts TM1 to TM8.

The eight rotation shafts TM1 to TM8 will be described in further detail.

The first rotation shaft TM1 includes the first sun gear S1 and the second sun gear S2, and is selectively connected to the transmission housing H so as to be operated as a fixed element.

The second rotation shaft TM2 includes the first planet carrier PC1 and the fourth ring gear R4.

The third rotation shaft TM3 includes the first ring gear R1, and is selectively connected to the transmission housing H so as to be operated as a fixed element.

The fourth rotation shaft TM4 includes the second planet carrier PC2 and is directly connected to the input shaft IS so as to be continuously operated as an input element.

The fifth rotation shaft TM5 includes the second ring gear R2 and the third sun gear S3, and is selectively connected to the second rotation shaft TM2.

The sixth rotation shaft TM6 includes the third planet carrier PC3.

The seventh rotation shaft TM7 includes the fourth sun gear S4, is selectively connected to the input shaft IS, and is selectively connected to the fifth rotation shaft TM5 or the sixth rotation shaft TM6.

The eighth rotation shaft TM8 includes the third ring gear R3 and the fourth planet carrier PC4, and is directly connected to the output shaft OS so as to be continuously operated as an output element.

In addition, four clutches C1, C2, C3, and Ct which are friction elements are disposed at connection portions between the input shaft IS and any one rotation shaft or between any two rotation shafts.

In addition, two brakes B1 and B2 which are friction elements are disposed at connection portions between any one rotation shaft and the transmission housing H.

The six frictional elements C1 to C4 and B1 to B2 will be described in further detail.

The first clutch C1 is interposed between the input shaft IS and the seventh rotation shaft TM7, and selectively connects the input shaft IS with the seventh rotation shaft TM7.

The second clutch C2 is interposed between the second rotation shaft TM2 and the fifth rotation shaft TM5, and selectively connects the second rotation shaft TM2 with the fifth rotation shaft TM5.

The third clutch C3 is interposed between the fifth rotation shaft TM5 and the seventh rotation shaft TM7, and selectively connects the fifth rotation shaft TM5 with the seventh rotation shaft TM7.

The fourth clutch C4 is interposed between the sixth rotation shaft TM6 and the seventh rotation shaft TM7, and selectively connects the sixth rotation shaft TM6 with the seventh rotation shaft TM7.

The first brake B1 is interposed between the first rotation shaft TM1 and the transmission housing H, and causes the first rotation shaft TM1 to be operated as a selective fixed element.

The second brake B2 is interposed between the third rotation shaft TM3 and the transmission housing H, and causes the third rotation shaft TM3 to be operated as a selective fixed element.

The friction elements including the first, second, third, and fourth clutches C1, C2, C3, and C4 and the first and second brakes B1 and B2 may be multi-plates friction elements of wet type that are operated by hydraulic pressure.

FIG. 2 is an operation chart of friction elements at each speed in the planetary gear train according to various embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, three friction elements are operated at each speed stage in the planetary gear train according to various embodiments of the present invention.

The first clutch C1 and the first and second brakes B1 and B2 are operated at a first forward speed stage 1ST.

The third clutch C3 and the first and second brakes B1 and B2 are operated at a second forward speed stage 2ND.

The first and third clutches C1 and C3 and the second brake B2 are operated at a third forward speed stage 3RD.

The second and third clutches C2 and C3 and the second brake B2 are operated at a fourth forward speed stage 4TH.

The first and second clutches C1 and C2 and the second brake B2 are operated at a fifth forward speed stage 5TH.

The first and fourth clutches C1 and C4 and the second brake B2 are operated at a sixth forward speed stage 6TH.

The first, second, and fourth clutches C1, C2, and C4 are operated at a seventh forward speed stage 7TH.

The first and fourth clutches C1 and C4 and the first brake B1 are operated at an eighth forward speed stage 8TH.

The first and second clutches C1 and C2 and the first brake B1 are operated at a ninth forward speed stage 9TH.

The second and third clutches C2 and C3 and the first brake B1 are operated at a tenth forward speed stage 10TH.

The fourth clutch C4 and the first and second brakes B1 and B2 are operated at a reverse speed stage REV.

The shifting processes will be described in further detail.

The first and second brakes B1 and B2 and the first clutch C1 are operated at the first forward speed stage 1ST.

The first, second, and third rotation shafts TM1, TM2, and TM3 of the first planetary gear set PG1 are operated as the fixed elements by operation of the first and second brakes B1 and B2.

At this state, rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4 and the first rotation shaft TM1 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the first brake B1. Therefore, increased rotation speed is transmitted to the third planetary gear set PG3 through the fifth rotation shaft TM5, but has no effect on shifting.

In a state that the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the seventh rotation shaft TM7 by operation of the first clutch C1, the second rotation shaft TM2 is operated as the fixed element. Therefore, the first forward speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

That is, the shifting at the first forward speed stage is performed by the rotation speed of the input shaft IS input to the seventh rotation shaft TM7 and lockup of the second rotation shaft TM2.

The first and second brakes B1 and B2 and the third clutch C3 are operated at the second forward speed stage 2ND.

The first, second, and third rotation shafts TM1, TM2, and TM3 of the first planetary gear set PG1 are operated as the fixed elements by operation of the first and second brakes B1 and B2.

At this state, the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4 and the first rotation shaft TM1 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the first brake B1. Therefore, the increased rotation speed is output through the fifth rotation shaft TM5.

In addition, the third and fourth planetary gear sets PG3 and PG4 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the third clutch C3 third clutch C3. In a state that the increased rotation speed is input to the fifth rotation shaft TM5 and the seventh rotation shaft TM7, the second rotation shaft TM2 is operated as the fixed element. Therefore, the second forward speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

The first and third clutches C1 and C3 and the second brake B2 are operated at the third forward speed stage 3RD.

In a state that the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4, the third rotation shaft TM3 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the second brake B2 and the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fifth rotation shaft TM5 and the seventh rotation shaft TM7 by operation of the first and third clutches C1 and C3. Therefore, the third forward speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

The second and third clutches C2 and C3 and the second brake B2 are operated at the fourth forward speed stage 4TH.

The first and second planetary gear sets PG1 and PG2 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the second clutch C2. In a state that the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4, the third rotation shaft TM3 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the second brake B2. Therefore, reduced rotation speed is output through the second rotation shaft TM2 and the fifth rotation shaft TM5.

In addition, the third and fourth planetary gear sets PG3 and PG4 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the third clutch C3. At this time, the reduced rotation speed is input to the second rotation shaft TM2 and the fifth rotation shaft TM5 such that the third and fourth planetary gear sets PG3 and PG4 become direct-coupling states. Therefore, the fourth forward speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

The first and second clutches C1 and C2 and the second brake B2 are operated at the fifth forward speed stage 5TH.

The first and second planetary gear sets PG1 and PG2 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the second clutch C2. In a state that the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4, the third rotation shaft TM3 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the second brake B2. Therefore, reduced rotation speed is output through the second rotation shaft TM2 and the fifth rotation shaft TM5.

In addition, the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the seventh rotation shaft TM7 by operation of the first clutch C1 and the reduced rotation speed is input to the second rotation shaft TM2. Therefore, the fifth forward speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

At this time, the reduced rotation speed input to the third planetary gear set PG3 through the fifth rotation shaft TM5 has no effect on the shift because the third and fourth clutches C3 and C4 do not operate.

The first and fourth clutches C1 and C4 and the second brake B2 are operated at the sixth forward speed stage 6TH.

In a state that the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4, the third rotation shaft TM3 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the second brake B2.

In addition, the third and fourth planetary gear sets PG3 and PG4 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the fourth clutch C4. At this time, the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the sixth rotation shaft TM6 and the seventh rotation shaft TM7 by operation of the first clutch C1. Therefore, the sixth forward speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

Although the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4 and the third rotation shaft TM3 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the second brake B2 at the third forward speed, the fourth speed, the fifth speed, and the sixth speed stage, speed ratio changes according to operation of the first, second, third, and fourth clutches C1, C2, C3, and C4.

The first, second, and fourth clutches C1, C2, and C4 are operated at the seventh forward speed stage 7TH.

The first and second planetary gear sets PG1 and PG2 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the second clutch C2, and the third and fourth planetary gear sets PG3 and PG4 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the fourth clutch C4. At this state, the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4 and the seventh rotation shaft TM7 such that the first, second, third, and fourth 4 planetary gear sets PG1, PG2, PG3, and PG4 become direct-coupling states. Therefore, the seventh forward speed stage where the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is just output is achieved.

The first and fourth clutches C1 and C4 and the first brake B1 are operated at the eighth forward speed stage 8TH.

In a state that the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4, the first rotation shaft TM1 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the first brake B1. Therefore, increased rotation speed is output through the fifth rotation shaft TM5.

In addition, the third and fourth planetary gear sets PG3 and PG4 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the fourth clutch C4. At this time, the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the seventh rotation shaft TM7 by operation of the first clutch C1 and the increased rotation speed is input to the fifth rotation shaft TM5. Therefore, the eighth forward speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

The first and second clutches C1 and C2 and the first brake B1 are operated at the ninth forward speed stage 9TH.

The first and second planetary gear sets PG1 and PG2 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the second clutch C2. In a state that the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4, the first rotation shaft TM1 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the first brake B1. Therefore, increased rotation speed is output through the fifth rotation shaft TM5.

In a state that the increased rotation speed is input to the second rotation shaft TM2, the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the seventh rotation shaft TM7 by operation of the first clutch C1. Therefore, the ninth forward speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

The second and third clutches C2 and C3 and the first brake B1 are operated at the tenth forward speed stage 10TH.

The first and second planetary gear sets PG1 and PG2 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the second clutch C2. In a state that the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4, the first rotation shaft TM1 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the first brake B1. Therefore, increased rotation speed is output through the fifth rotation shaft TM5.

In addition, the third and fourth planetary gear sets PG3 and PG4 are operated as a compound planetary gear set by operation of the third clutch C3. At this time, the increased rotation speed is input to the second rotation shaft TM2 and the fifth rotation shaft TM5 such that the third and fourth planetary gear sets PG3 and PG4 becomes direct-coupling states. Therefore, the tenth forward speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

The first and second brakes B1 and B2 and the fourth clutch C4 are operated at the reverse speed stage REV.

The first, second, and third rotation shafts TM1, TM2, and TM3 of the first planetary gear set PG1 are operated as the fixed elements by operation of the first and second brakes B1 and B2.

At this state, the rotation speed of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth rotation shaft TM4 and the first rotation shaft TM1 is operated as the fixed element by operation of the first brake B1. Therefore, the increased rotation speed is output through the fifth rotation shaft TM5.

In a state that the second rotation shaft TM2 is stopped, the increased rotation speed is input to the fifth rotation shaft TM5. Therefore, inverse rotation speed is output through the sixth rotation shaft TM6.

In a state that the second rotation shaft TM2 is stopped, the inverse rotation speed is input to the seventh rotation shaft TM7 by operation of the fourth clutch C4. Therefore, the reverse speed stage is output through the eighth rotation shaft TM8.

The planetary gear train according to various embodiments of the present invention may achieve ten forward speed stages and one reverse speed stage by control of four planetary gear sets PG1, PG2, PG3, and PG4, four clutches C1, C2, C3, and C4, and two brakes B1 and B2.

Therefore, power delivery performance and fuel economy may be improved.

Since a speed stage suitable to engine speed can be achieved due to multiple speed stages, silent driving may be improved.

In addition, since three friction elements operate at each speed and the number of non-operating friction elements is minimized, a friction drag loss is decreased. Therefore, drag torque and power loss may be reduced.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle, comprising: an input shaft receiving torque of an engine; an output shaft outputting changed torque; a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear; a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear; a third planetary gear set including a third sun gear, a third planet carrier, and a third ring gear; a fourth planetary gear set including a fourth sun gear, a fourth planet carrier, and a fourth ring gear; a first rotation shaft including the first and second sun gears and selectively connected to a transmission housing; a second rotation shaft including the first planet carrier and the fourth ring gear; a third rotation shaft including the first ring gear and selectively connected to the transmission housing; a fourth rotation shaft including the second planet carrier and directly connected to the input shaft; a fifth rotation shaft including the second ring gear and the third sun gear and selectively connected to the second rotation shaft; a sixth rotation shaft including the third planet carrier; a seventh rotation shaft including the fourth sun gear, selectively connected to the input shaft, and selectively connected to the fifth rotation shaft or the sixth rotation shaft; and an eighth rotation shaft including the third ring gear and the fourth planet carrier and directly connected to the output shaft.
 2. The planetary gear train of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets is a single pinion planetary gear set.
 3. The planetary gear train of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are disposed sequentially from an engine side.
 4. The planetary gear train of claim 1, further comprising: a first clutch interposed between the input shaft and the seventh rotation shaft; a second clutch interposed between the second rotation shaft and the fifth rotation shaft; a third clutch interposed between the fifth rotation shaft and the seventh rotation shaft; a fourth clutch interposed between the sixth rotation shaft and the seventh rotation shaft; a first brake interposed between the first rotation shaft and the transmission housing; and a second brake interposed between the third rotation shaft and the transmission housing.
 5. The planetary gear train of claim 4, wherein a first forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first clutch and the first and second brakes, a second forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the third clutch and the first and second brakes, a third forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and third clutches and the second brake, a fourth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the second and third clutches and the second brake, a fifth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and second clutches and the second brake, a sixth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and fourth clutches and the second brake, a seventh forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first, second, and fourth clutches, an eighth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and fourth clutches and the first brake, a ninth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and second clutches and the first brake, a tenth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the second and third clutches and the first brake, and a reverse speed is achieved by operation of the fourth clutch and the first and second brakes.
 6. A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle, comprising: an input shaft receiving torque of an engine; an output shaft outputting changed torque; a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear; a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear; a third planetary gear set including a third sun gear, a third planet carrier, and a third ring gear; and a fourth planetary gear set including a fourth sun gear, a fourth planet carrier, and a fourth ring gear, wherein the input shaft is directly connected to the second planet carrier, the output shaft is directly connected to the third ring gear and the fourth planet carrier, the first sun gear is directly connected to the second sun gear, the first planet carrier is directly connected to the fourth ring gear, the second ring gear is directly connected to the third sun gear, the third ring gear is directly connected to the fourth planet carrier, the fourth sun gear is selectively connected to the input shaft, the first planet carrier and the fourth ring gear are selectively connected to the second ring gear and the third sun gear, the second ring gear and the third sun gear are selectively connected to the fourth sun gear, the third planet carrier is selectively connected to the fourth sun gear, the first sun gear and the second sun gear are selectively connected to a transmission housing, and the first ring gear is selectively connected to the transmission housing.
 7. The planetary gear train of claim 6, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets is a single pinion planetary gear set.
 8. The planetary gear train of claim 6, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are disposed sequentially from an engine side.
 9. The planetary gear train of claim 6, further comprising: a first clutch selectively connecting the fourth sun gear with the input shaft; a second clutch selectively connecting the first planet carrier and the fourth ring gear with the second ring gear and the third sun gear; a third clutch selectively connecting the second ring gear and the third sun gear with the fourth sun gear; a fourth clutch selectively connecting the third planet carrier with the fourth sun gear; a first brake selectively connecting the first sun gear and the second sun gear with the transmission housing; and a second brake selectively connecting the first ring gear with the transmission housing.
 10. The planetary gear train of claim 9, wherein a first forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first clutch and the first and second brakes, a second forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the third clutch and the first and second brakes, a third forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and third clutches and the second brake, a fourth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the second and third clutches and the second brake, a fifth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and second clutches and the second brake, a sixth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and fourth clutches and the second brake, a seventh forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first, second, and fourth clutches, an eighth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and fourth clutches and the first brake, a ninth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the first and second clutches and the first brake, a tenth forward speed stage is achieved by operation of the second and third clutches and the first brake, and a reverse speed is achieved by operation of the fourth clutch and the first and second brakes. 